Eustace: I've had to calm Trav down as he waits for return

DUO UNLIKELY TO PLAY TONIGHT AS RAMS AIM TO AVENGE HOME LOSS TO FOXES

- By LEIGH CURTIS

LEWIS Travis and Max Johnston are unlikely to face Leicester City tonight as Derby County look to make it all square in the battle for East Midlands bragging rights this season.

Skipper Travis and Johnston have been recovering from calf and hamstring problems respectively and have returned to training.

Both players missed the 1-1 draw against Birmingham City on Boxing Day, although Travis did travel with the squad to St Andrew's to offer support.

Rams head coach John Eustace revealed Travis was eager to play against Blues but Eustace maintains the former Blackburn Rovers man is a doubt for the trip to the King Power tonight (7.45pm) as the Rams look to atone for their 3-1 home defeat earlier this month.

While both players look to be unavailable tonight, Eustace did praise Liam Thompson and Bobby Clark for their contribution in midfield against the Blues.

Asked if both Travis and Johnston would be fit to face Leicester, Eustace said: "I don’t think so. Obviously, Trav’s been out for 11 weeks.

"He's trained twice up to now. It was really important that he came and joined the group (for Birmingham) with his experience of the training ground and around the dressing room.

"He couldn't wait to get back in the squad.

"He actually wanted to start (against Birmingham), so I've had to calm him down a little bit.

"But you look at the performance by Thommo again and he was outstanding in that midfield against some really top performers that Birmingham have got in there.